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Email Update 7/19/02 Volume 3 Issue # 35
IN THIS ISSUE
1. Q and A with Paul Allen
2. Texans Complete Wheeling and Dealing
3. Starsky and Hutch Players
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Q and A with Paul Allen
Clipped from the Seattle Times article:
Excited. He must have used that word 50 times in 20 minutes. And when
Paul Allen, the fourth-richest man in the world, gets excited, it's a
fair bet he's not talking about the summer's latest blockbuster
movie.
Saturday is the grand open house for Seahawks Stadium, and it is then
the team's owner will unveil exactly what he had in mind when he
purchased the team and promptly blew up the Kingdome. From the
rubble, he constructed a $430 million stadium and exhibition center
that's got him, well, excited.
His nervousness becomes apparent when he extends a hand and
asks: "So, what do you think?" He surely made similar inquiries after
building another fixture that altered the Seattle skyline, the
multihued Experience Music Project.
The EMP garnered mixed reviews, whereas the new Seahawks Stadium has
elicited a series of oohs and ahs from first-time visitors.
Allen can't get enough of the place. He will sit in an empty suite
next to President Bob Whitsitt for a few minutes and chat about his
latest venture. But once the interview is complete, Allen jumps up
and walks toward the window for yet another look.
"You did say you liked it?" he asks, waiting for an affirmative
nod. "Good. Good. I'm glad."
During the conversation Allen and Whitsitt talked about their
expectations for the upcoming season and the playoff-or-else rhetoric
surrounding Coach Mike Holmgren.
Seattle Times: It's been six years since you purchased the option to
buy the stadium and you've invested a lot of money into this venture.
Has it been worth it?
Allen: Yeah. With something like a stadium we had a transition period
where we played at the Kingdome and we played at Husky Stadium, and
now we're finally in the new home. Any process like that is going to
take a while. We're excited that we've got this great new facility
that we're delivering a couple weeks early and on budget. We think
the sight lines are going to be great and the atmosphere will make it
a landmark new stadium for the league, the fans, the city and
everybody involved. For us, it's really an exciting time.
Times: What is your vision for the Seattle Seahawks?
Allen: I want to have a team that has a chance to do some damage in
the playoffs. An exciting team. You look at Mike Holmgren's teams in
the past, and it's a pretty wide-open attack. ... We're going to
field an exciting and younger team. I think over 50 percent of the
players on the roster have three years or less of experience, so we
think it's a team on the rise. There's a chance to do damage, but
there's always a chance for injury to hold us back. We've been
through an evolving process to get into that position.
Times: Where does the stadium naming-rights issue stand at this
point?
Allen: We're still looking for a partner. The revenue from the naming
rights goes right into the stadium maintenance. We've been looking
for someone to put their name on the stadium that will (fit) the
community and the kind of image that we would like to have associated
with the team. We're still in that process. We hope to find someone
in the next few years in this challenging economy.
Times: In the meantime, where does the (naming rights) money come
from?
Whitsitt: (Points to Allen).
Allen: We're on the hook for the expenses. (Laughter).
Times: How much pressure is there to win this season?
Allen: Every year you go into the season and have to look at your
roster, then there are mitigating (factors) like injuries that can
come to bear. Last year, we were that close and had the best record
of anyone who did not make the playoffs. Hopefully this year, we'll
get over the hump. But there are calibrating factors ... There's no
way to know what's going to happen or if we're going to get into the
playoffs and make some noise.
Times: It seems like in baseball and football, new stadiums have done
well in that first year, but if the teams don't win, there's a huge
drop-off in attendance. So does that put more pressure on this year?
Allen: There is a novelty factor to a new facility, and maybe you get
people coming and checking you out that might not otherwise. But the
reality is we have to deliver exciting football here, exciting soccer
and other events. Get people excited about the facility.
Traditionally, Seattle has been a great sports town and great
football town. What the Huskies have achieved over the years has been
pretty amazing. That's how I got my first taste of football when I
went with my father to Husky Stadium. We'd eat hot dogs and watch
football played outside in the elements. That has a special gritty,
outdoorsy thing to that experience that I loved as a kid. And
hopefully that kind of flavor will end up being in the new stadium. I
think we're in a position to achieve that.
Times: Sticking with the pressure-to-win theme, how much of that is
on Mike Holmgren?
Allen: Obviously, Mike sets the strategy, selects the players, and
those are things that are his responsibility. Our record hasn't been
that shabby and now we're hoping that it will go up. Mike is a great
strategist, a great leader and a great person and we feel very
positive about him.
Times: Is it playoffs-or-else this season for the coach?
Allen: I'm a very patient and thoughtful person when it comes to
evaluating, if you look at my record with the (Portland Trail
Blazers). We sit down after the season and evaluate. But we feel good
about where the team is right now and its potential. I think probably
some of the extreme viewpoints about those things are just not true.
Whitsitt: And don't forget the first year, we won the division and
hosted a playoff game. Then the decision was made to really build the
foundation right, so we did some things to our salary cap. We did
some things with our older players. Brought on younger players and
developed them. ... You start looking at the younger guys, like Shaun
Alexander, who are starting to emerge on the scene and I think our
fans are starting to realize there's some good young talent here. We
were back to 9-7 last year, just missed the playoffs and we'd like to
get into the playoffs this year. But as Paul said, you wait until the
season is over and you look back. And I think the evaluation is: Did
we do the best job we could do under the circumstances? And none of
us know what the circumstances are going to be until you get to them.
Allen: We're certainly hoping that the new facility gives us a lift.
The players are really excited about it. The coaching staff is
excited. We're excited about it. And everyone who sees it that we've
talked to so far has given us a positive reaction.
Times: Can you change the fortunes of an NFL team as quickly as you
can in the NBA?
Allen: There's a bit of luck involved, or just having the right
second-string quarterback or whatever. In the NBA, there's probably
less surprise based on the level of talent because you pretty much
know who your top six or eight players are and what they can do. But
in the NFL, it seems like some people can jump up.
Whitsitt: In the NFL, you need a system. You need more guys doing
their jobs properly. In the NBA, if you have the right player, he can
make a huge impact on winning and losing. In football, even if it's
the right player you need a number of other people in your system.
There's a lot more moving parts.
Times: People see you courtside at Trail Blazers games and you seem
to get into it, but are you an avid football fan as well?
Allen: I have to say that initially, when I was first approached
about this, I had gone to a lot of Seahawks games. But there's a
difference in being an owner of a team. Once you become an owner of a
team, you get so much more into the sport and you can't help it. So I
really love NFL football now to the degree of following it much more
than I did previously.
[[[[[[[[[[[[[ OUR VIEW ]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]
The Seahawks are definitely a team on the rise. It helps to have the
4th richest man own you. He tends to find the money for stadiums,
coaches, etc. For this interview, I would also say Mike Holmgren is
very safe in Seattle unless the team absolutely tanks. Young players
+ new stadium + Holmgren offense = exciting football. We remain high
on Shaun Alexander and both Darrell Jackson and Koren Robinson this
season. And if all those players do well, you can probably add Trent
Dilfer as having a good season.
Personal note to Paul Allen: You have bought the Seahawks, Sporting
News and Small World Football. You know you want a piece of what we
are building here. Feel free to drop us a note.
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Texans Complete Wheeling and Dealing
Clipped from the Houston Chronicle article:
A marathon of negotiations finally came to an end Thursday when the
Texans reached agreements with their final three unsigned draft
picks, ensuring that all 12 draft picks will be present Saturday when
players are scheduled to report to training camp.
Fullback Jarrod Baxter signed a three-year $1.035 million contract,
including a $130,000 signing bonus, and running back Jonathan Wells
agreed to terms on a three-year deal worth $1.255 million with a
$350,000 signing bonus.
Sources say the Texans reached a tentative agreement with receiver
Jabar Gaffney on Thursday and that the first overall pick of the
second round will sign the deal today.
Despite having more draft picks than any team in the NFL, general
manager Charley Casserly and director of negotiations Dan Ferens
helped the Texans become the first team in the league to reach
agreements will all of its draftees.
There was a greater sense of urgency for the Texans to get their
draft picks signed because they report to training camp earlier than
any other NFL team. Also, the fact the team reached an agreement with
first-round pick quarterback David Carr before the draft was an
advantage.
Baxter, a fifth-round pick from New Mexico, arguably is the most
talented fullback on the roster and could quickly move to the top of
the depth chart during training camp.
He rushed for 2,090 yards and 19 touchdowns as a four-year starter at
New Mexico, but he isn't expecting many carries in Chris Palmer's
offense, which historically hasn't featured an abundance of handoffs
to the fullback.
"I have to be consistent catching the ball," said Baxter, 6-0, 245
pounds. "Blocking and catching; that's it. Every now and then, I
might get a chance to carry the ball, maybe ... possibly. But I
already put that out of my mind a long time ago."
The Texans held three minicamps during the offseason, but because of
Ohio State's late graduation date, Wells (6-1, 245) missed all of the
second one and most of the last one.
The coaches were impressed with what little they saw of the fourth-
round pick, who rushed for 1,331 yards and 16 touchdowns last season
for the Buckeyes.
Despite starting only 15 games during his college career, Wells ranks
12th on Ohio State's all-time list with 26 touchdowns.
Gaffney (6-1, 193) spent just two years at Florida, but posted
remarkable statistics, catching 138 passes for 2,375 yards and 27
touchdowns in just 19 starts.
He is projected as a first-year starter for the Texans, who reached
agreements with seven draft picks in a span of four days.
[[[[[[[[[[[[[ OUR VIEW ]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]
We do not expect great things from a fantasy perspective with the
Texans this season, but you have to applaud how the front office is
conducting business. Jonathan Wells remains a deep sleeper that will
likely get a shot to start some games this season (Just has to beat
out undersized James Allen).
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and now something a little different:
Starsky and Hutch Players
By David Dodds
I know what you are thinking.....What the hell does Starsky and Hutch
have to do with playing fantasy football? Before I answer that
question, try to ponder life with just Starsky and no Hutch. Chaka
Khan and no Rufus, Shields without Yarnell (OK I probably could
envision life without either of these two), but you get the theme.
Some people were just meant to be paired. And the same holds true for
fantasy football players.
Most fantasy owners will cringe at two good players vying for one
starting spot. Other owners will shy away from anyone that has shown
any injury history. "What if I choose wrong?" "I can't afford to pick
him if he may not start the whole year". This thinking seems sound,
but really isn't. All players, given the right value, should be
considered for your team. You will be surprised, however, how often
fantasy owners will bypass the controversy in favor of the mundane.
You will not win with the mundane.......let me repeat that......YOU
WILL NOT WIN WITH THE MUNDANE. To win your league, you must find
value. And value is usually found wherever there is controversy.
Take for instance the Indianapolis RB situation between Edgerrin
James and Dominic Rhodes. Most fantasy GMs are afraid to pull the
trigger on James because he is coming back from an ACL injury. You
can't blame the thinking, but it is creating tremendous value for
those able to get both James and Rhodes. No one thinks Indianapolis
will not have a great running game. It's just we are all unclear
which back is the one to have.
With the help from the average draft lists at Antsports.com
, I have assembled more Starsky and Hutch players that you should consider
on draft day. The goal is to get value on the first selection and then follow
up that value with the other piece of the controversy. This can be a case
where 1 + 1 doesn't equal two.
To best evaluate these combos, we will list the Antsports.com average
overall draft position as well as what our own pick value calculator
compares this to.
Going into this season, here are the Starsky and Hutch situations
that are likely to yield good value (overall draft position is listed
in parenthesis � Corresponding player value of the two picks combined
is also listed)
These are listed in no particular order:
SD QBs Drew Brees (156) / Doug Flutie (146) � Both of these QBs are
going late, but you know one of them will have great value. The pick
value calculator says the overall value is equivalent to pick 115 or
someone of Mark Brunell's caliber.
CAR RBs Lamar Smith (76) / DeShaun Foster (81) � This RBBC isn't all
that attracticve, but could help you in you find yourself short a RB
after 3 rounds. Equivalent position = William Green (43).
Chi WRs Marcus Robinson (137) / David Terrell (136) � No one knows
who to take here and both have seen their value plummet. Let others
choose marty Booker after his career year. The "other" WR position
will also produce. Equivalent position = Joe Galloway (110).
Cin QBs Jon Kitna (152) / Gus Frerotte (164) � The Bengals have a
look of an offense on the rise. Both of these QBs have experience in
the league and the your WRs are as talented as any teams. Equivalent
position = Jake Plummer (118).
JAC RBs Fred Taylor (28) / Stacey Mack (87) - This one hinges on the
ability to get Fred Taylor and his injured past later than expected.
It has been happening in a lot of drafts this season. Equivalent
position = Stephen Davis (17).
Dal RBs Emmitt Smith (60) / Troy Hambrick (125) � When a future hall-
of-famer starts doing commercials with Alf, then he is done. Emmitt
has had a great future, but look for Hambrick to cut into his playing
time this season. Equivalent position = Jamal Lewis (52).
GB WRs Terry Glenn (49) / Robert Ferguson (149) � When Favre is your
QB, you will score TDs. Since Favre is projected for 30+ scores in
most of the publications, you have to ask who gets all of these TDs.
Bubba Franks will surey get some, but Glenn and Ferguson will also
have bi weeks. Equivalent position = Darrell Jackson (40)
Det WRs Bill Schroeder (123) / Az-Zahir Hakim (150) � Someone has to
catch the ball. You lock up both cheap and would benefit if one were
to get injured. Equivalent position = Darrell Jackson (107)
Atl WRs Brian Finneran (148) / Shawn Jefferson (undrafted) � No love
for Shawn Jefferson? OK this is very bland, but both should have
huge weeks a few times this year. Equivalent position = Germane
Crowell (147)
Chi QBs Jim Miller (154) / Chris Chandler (168) � This is one of the
better plays in my opinion. The Bears have three very good receivers
in Booker, Terrell and Robinson. The pick value calculator says the
overall value is equivalent to pick 120 (Trent Dilfer level).
Was WRs Jacquez Green (164) / Rod Gardner (79) - Bring in a coach who
vows to pass often and you have to like these guys. Equivalent
position = Darrell Jackson (107)
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Well that's it for today,
David Dodds
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